Rail clamp



Dec. 25, 1928.

E. MULLINS RAIL CLAMP Filed July 26, 1927 I0) Mullins attempt Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ED MULLINS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ARCH. MULLINS, OF LATONIA, KENTUCKY, AND ONE-THIRD T SAM. FITCH MAGUIRE, OF LOUISVILLE,

KENTUCKY.

BAIL CLAMP.

Application filed July 26,

This invention relates to rail clamps, and more particularly to rail clamps especially designed for use in clamping wheels of railway rolling stock to the rails on which the railway rolling stock is standing, while the roliing stock is being elevated or jacked up in the operation of changing or renewing the journal bearings for the axles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be positioned with facility, the clamp securing means being located with respect to the clamp in such a way that the clamp may be tightened on the rail and wheel from a point at the outside of the wheel, eliminating any possibility of injury to the person applying the clamp, by the movements of the car.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this character embodying a substantially U-shaped grip, and adjustable swivel means for connecting the grip to the body portion of the clamp, to permit the clamp to be applied with facility.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the Combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention as applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the clamp.

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view through a car wheel and showing the clamp as applied.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates a railway rail on which the ear wheel 6 rests, the car wheel being shown as of the usual and well known construction, the same having a flange 7 adjacent to the tread portion 8 thereof.

The clamp forming the subject matter of this invention includes a substantially U- shaped body portion 9 having arms 10 and 11 1927. Serial No. 208,604.

respectfully, the arms 10 and 11 being spaced apart in such a way that the clamp may be positioned around a car wheel in a manner as shown by Figure 3 of the drawing, to accomplish its purpose.

Atthe free end of the arm 11 is a curved 7 of the wheel, while the inwardly extended portion 17 contacts with the ball of the rail, at a point adjacent to the under side thereof, as clearly shown by Figure 3.

An elongated, opening 18 is formed in the extension 13 of the shaft and is designed to receive the pin 19, that extendsthrough a bore formed in the bifurcated end portion of the arm 10, to pivotally connect the grip to the arm 10.

In order that the pin 19 may be held against accidental displacement, the pin is provided with a threaded portion 20 that is fitted inthe threaded extremity of the bore in which the pin is positioned, there being provided a finger piece 21 at the upper end of the pin to permit the pin to be readily rotated.

In connection with the grip it might be stated that owing to the fact that rails are of various sizes, these grips may be made in various sizes and readily and easily interchanged to adapt the device for use in connection with rails and wheels of various sizes.

Due to the construction of the grip 15 it will be seen that inward movement of the grip with respect to the arm 10 will be permitted, and in order to accomplish this movement, the wedge 22 is provided, the same being permanently secured to the body portion of the clamp by means of the chain 23 that passes through the eye 24 carried by thewedge. In order that the grip 15 may be utilized with rails of various sizes, a wedge 25 is provided and is also permanently secured to the clamp, by means of the chain 26. The wedge 22 is provided with an elongated cut out portion 22 extending from the free end of the wedge to a point adjacent to the inner end thereof,

so that the wedge may he slid into position over the shaft 14 to eliminate vertical movement of the wedge when being forced into position. Thus it will be seen that should the clamp be too large for use with a certain sized rail and wheel this wedge 25 may be inserted in a manner as shown by Figure 3, or between the lower surface of the ball of the rail and the upper surface of the inwardly extended end portion 17 to fill the space therebetween.

In the use of the device, it is only necessary to position the clamp around the lower portion of the wheel, whereupon the grip 15 is swung to a position to grip the inner portion of the wheel and adjacent portion of the ball of the rail. The wedge 22 is now forced be tween the grip 15 and arm 10, as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, and if necessary, forced between the grip and arm 10 by hitting the outer end of the wedge with a hammer or similar tool.

It will also be seen that due to this construction, the clamp may be positioned and secure ly held in position, the operator working at the outside of the track and not between the rails ofa track nor under a car as is usual in the application of clamps of this character.

I claim:

1. A clamp for clamping a car wheel to a railway rail, including a body portion having arms means at one end of one of the arms for engaging the inner surface of the wheel, a grip, means for adjustably supporting the grip with respect to the body portion, and a wedge adapted to be forced between the grip and arm of the body portion supporting the grip to move the grip into close engagement with the Wheel and rail.

A clamp for clamping a car wheel to a railway rail, including a body portion having an outer arm and an inner arm, means on the inner arm for gripping the wheel, a grip secured to the outer arm, a shaft extending from the grip and having connection with the arm,

ED MULLINS. 

